Korean student dies in sand pit; was spending day at beach with friends

19-year-old died after going into 6-foot-deep sand pit

Published On: Aug 24 2012 11:29:45 AM EDT

OXNARD, Calif. -

A student died in a sand pit in California after it collapsed on him Wednesday, according to authorities.

The 19-year-old exchange student from Korea died after he lay down in a 6-foot-deep sandpit he and some fellow students had dug on a Southern California beach and it collapsed on him.

He has been identified as Mingyu Sang, according to NBCLosAngeles.com, a student at Master's College.

"I think the kids were just having fun on the beach," said Battalion Chief Darwin Base of the Oxnard Fire Department, according to NBCLosAngeles.com. "There was a big group of them down there. They were taking pictures of each other and from what I understand the individual was laying back in the pit and taking pictures of his fellow students and that's when it sloughed and came in on him."

The Oxnard Fire Department said in a statement that students from Masters College had dug the pit while spending the day at Oxnard Beach Park on Wednesday and the man became buried after climbing into it.

Firefighters arrived and immediately began digging with tools and hands, but it took 15 minutes to free him.

CPR was performed on the man as he was taken to Ventura County Medical Center, but he was declared dead at the hospital.

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